~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[tucson_chick 0]

KG, i am sorry for the hard time you guys are having. i had a very similar conversation with eric basically each day for about 1 week now. he keeps telling me that i am draining him with my emotional state and all the negativeness and the reassurance that i constantly need.

but there is not a whole lot i can do about it. i mean, i am leaving my family and my friends behind. my flight leaves in 5 days and i already know that i will need a ton of tissues.

and it doesn't mean that i don't love him, or that i don't want to close to him or anything. it's just the two sides of one coin called: K1 and immigration.

i hope everybody has a sunny, happy, bright sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FREE HUGS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

[Jeraly 4]

*Ehm*

May I join in although we filed in June?

I promise to show some wedding pics when I figure out how to

Yay!! Sure you can join us! You can be an honorary July filer like Moxie I'll make certificates in a little bit... in fact as we will all be filing AOS at different times anyway then I will even add your AOS progress to our spreadsheet Let me know all the details and things and I will fill it all in - I am anxious to add something to it as I made it all myself!!

Aly <------------ big girl now

KG, i am sorry for the hard time you guys are having. i had a very similar conversation with eric basically each day for about 1 week now. he keeps telling me that i am draining him with my emotional state and all the negativeness and the reassurance that i constantly need.

but there is not a whole lot i can do about it. i mean, i am leaving my family and my friends behind. my flight leaves in 5 days and i already know that i will need a ton of tissues.

and it doesn't mean that i don't love him, or that i don't want to close to him or anything. it's just the two sides of one coin called: K1 and immigration.

i hope everybody has a sunny, happy, bright sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FREE HUGS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

KG/Agnes/Pretty much most of us:

It is really hard - it is harder because when we seem upset about it, it can easily be interpreted as not wanting to go by our friends/family - last thing we need is them asking if we made the right decisions, have any regrets, that there is still time to change our minds(!) etc!!!

Kevin - I know that I will be the same - I peak and trough between feeling totally chilled out and excited to panicking and wondering how I will cope. I am sure it is natural and I am sure things will settle down. Sometimes the buildup/wait is the worst part of it all.

Agnes - I know how you feel hunny *hugs* I am sure part of you just wants to go now so you can get it over and done with rather than hang around waiting for your life to be turned upside down. Just think - when you are there things will settle down - *AND* as if you wanted anything else to look forward to (some might say it is even better than being with your fiance) you will get a SHINY NEW CERTIFICATE from me Will take pre-orders

*hugs* to all

Am feeling totally chilled today actually so

[KGSodie 0]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!

[KGSodie 0]

As the day of the interview draws closer, things are getting very difficult for Natasha. 8<...

Kevin, sorry to hear of the internal turmoil Natasha's experiencing right now. I'm sure you've been expecting it of course, but now the reality really sets in for both of you. How is Vika handling it?

You and I share pretty similar situations (as we've noted before) so I'll be eagerly anticipating your narrative about your new life with Natasha and Vika, living vicariously through your adventures as it were. Hopefully you'll blaze a few trails for me that will smooth my path out when Nadya arrives.

I was thinking the same thing when I was writing that post, Mox, but decided not to mention it. I'll definitely keep you updated on things. Vika seems to be very excited by the entire prospect of turning her life upside down, but being only 10 she is probably not completely aware of what she will feel or experience after she arrives.

[Jeraly 4]

Also kids are pretty resilient so you'll prolly find that once she starts school she'll develop a social network right away and settle down quite well

Have changed from being chilled to somewhat nervous now - it's crunch time. We had family over and the next time I will see them is when I am in the States so it is sinking in how close it is getting. Now I just kinda want to skip to Thursday post-immigration so I can chill again!!

Also the first day I am there (Friday), Jeremy is working so I will be on here chatting and freaking out

[KGSodie 0]

I agree with you Ally - kids can adjust pretty quickly. Natasha, Vika and I will have 2 weeks together in Moscow for the interview, and then 1 week here before I return to work. After I return to work, Vika will be in school and Natasha will come with me to my work (I have such a flexible job - it's quite a benefit). I have no intention of leaving her alone until she feels she is ready. Her English is actually pretty good, but it's still difficult for her to understand spoken English unless it is spoken very slowly. Exciting days are definitely just ahead.

[Jeraly 4]

Oh that is cool I know that when I was out for a couple months in 2006 I went into work with Jeremy some days just to get me out of the house. Ok so I was just sat freezing in A&W (70 feels reeeeaally cold when it's over 100 outside in the shade) with my reading book and puzzle book for company for eight hours but it made a change from time to time

What do you do that is so flexible?! Sounds like I need to get me a job like that Hmmm also need to make certificates for moxie and Marta

[KGSodie 0]

I'm a computer programmer. I've been working for the same company for 18 years now, which makes me the senior technical guy on the team, so they like to keep me happy (at least, that's what I think is going on!). That's also the reason they give me time off work to teach (I'm a volunteer high school math teacher during the school year, from 7:30-10:30 M-Th). Natasha thinks I should continue teaching, because I love it, but it will be very hard to work both jobs when I have her waiting for me at home. I have the summer to figure that out, I suppose.

[Jeraly 4]

Oooh - sounds cushtie!!!

Hmmm.... there is no way you could change to a paid teacher? Or would it just not be feasible financially?

[weedebz 0]

I'm a wreck, I mean a total wreck. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't sit still, I can't think straight. I've checked through my files 7 times today. I randomly breakdown in tears. I'm snapping at everyone. Nick isn't worried, at least he says he's not, he says deep inside he's knows it will be fine, I wish I shared his confidence.

In 48hrs I'll either be exhausted from skipping round London all afternoon or I'll be sat alone on a park bench breaking my heart.

[KGSodie 0]

I'm a wreck, I mean a total wreck. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't sit still, I can't think straight. I've checked through my files 7 times today. I randomly breakdown in tears. I'm snapping at everyone. Nick isn't worried, at least he says he's not, he says deep inside he's knows it will be fine, I wish I shared his confidence.

In 48hrs I'll either be exhausted from skipping round London all afternoon or I'll be sat alone on a park bench breaking my heart.

I can definitely empathize, Debz! It sounds like Nick does better with this than I do. It's difficult for me to see Natasha suffer, being so far away and powerless. But he is correct - everything WILL be ok!

[KGSodie 0]

Oooh - sounds cushtie!!!

Hmmm.... there is no way you could change to a paid teacher? Or would it just not be feasible financially?

I'm not certified to teach, and it wouldn't even come close to replacing my paycheck. It's a private school, so teachers don't have to be certified. I started as an after school tutor, then all my students went to the principal and asked that I be allowed to teach the class. So I went to my employer and got approval to arrive to work late during the school year, and viola - instant teacher. Maybe when I retire I'll consider teaching full time, but Natasha and I have also talked about moving to Russia after I retire. It's many years off yet, anyway.

[bakofoil 27]

I'm a wreck, I mean a total wreck. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't sit still, I can't think straight. I've checked through my files 7 times today. I randomly breakdown in tears. I'm snapping at everyone. Nick isn't worried, at least he says he's not, he says deep inside he's knows it will be fine, I wish I shared his confidence.

In 48hrs I'll either be exhausted from skipping round London all afternoon or I'll be sat alone on a park bench breaking my heart.

Is there anyone on VJ being interviewed on the same day? I really think you'll be fine but it might ease your fears if you know there will be someone around that you know. I don't want to think of you sitting alone in London.

[weedebz 0]

I'm a wreck, I mean a total wreck. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't sit still, I can't think straight. I've checked through my files 7 times today. I randomly breakdown in tears. I'm snapping at everyone. Nick isn't worried, at least he says he's not, he says deep inside he's knows it will be fine, I wish I shared his confidence.

In 48hrs I'll either be exhausted from skipping round London all afternoon or I'll be sat alone on a park bench breaking my heart.

Is there anyone on VJ being interviewed on the same day? I really think you'll be fine but it might ease your fears if you know there will be someone around that you know. I don't want to think of you sitting alone in London.

not that I can see!

[Jeraly 4]

Aww debz - I'd like to say I know how you feel but I haven't been there yet... I must say I could use the not eating part myself at the moment though I know you'll be fine, I know you'll be approved. But I also know how sickening it is to have something be so close that you just want it over with but you can't make it get closer any quicker! I'm the same about immigration although not nearly so bad as you because deep down I know that I will be fine as long as I don't say anything stupid